Connect with us

Published

on

One of the first great horror films of 2018 is Coralie Fargeat‘s aptly-titled Revenge, which stars RingsMatilda Lutz as a CEO’s mistress who must fight for survival when she’s left for dead in the middle of the desert.

While the film had its world premiere at last year’s TIFF, it’s setting the stage for a noisy release out of the ongoing Sundance Film Festival. You see, the film is an allegory for sexual harassment in the workplace, which is poetic timing for this thrilling indie that leaves a massive trail of blood in its wake.

“I do really feel this film was made at the perfect moment in history,” Lutz told Bloody Disgusting in an exclusive interview.

“It’s obviously not a realistic movie and I wouldn’t encourage revenge on anyone, of course, but it’s a very strong metaphor for what’s happening right now.”  She goes on to explain: “Something is definitely changing. Women are encouraged to speak up (and men to stand by their sides) and I think it is a great example for kids.  I think the problem starts at the bottom. The change needs to be made starting from kids, teaching them to speak up when they feel something is weird, to not be afraid. It’s a very delicate subject [that] can ruin somebody’s life.” In her home country of Italy, she says it’s received very differently, with many victims criticized and even blacklisted. “I think we’re still back in time there. We’re probably going to need a little more time for change.”

While Lutz’s Revenge character, Jennifer, is most identifiable, the main connection she made was with Fargeat’s vision.

“More than the role, at first it was Coralie [Fargeat] who attracted me to the project,” adding that she “loved her strength, determination, and passion for Revenge.” In addition to falling in love with Fargeat’s “genius” short, REALITY +, she loved the opportunity the script gave her to drastically change from one character to another: “The transformation was what I liked and it also scared me the most, but I was ready to challenge myself.”

Challenging is an understatement, as Lutz battled harsh weather while acting in a bikini.

“It was definitely tough!” she blurted with a strong emphasis on the “T”. “We shot in Morocco, but in February and March, it’s really cold. I was shooting the whole film in a bikini – the wind was blowing, and sometimes I would be covered in blood or water so it was even colder. All the locations were real – no studio – so running barefoot in the desert [for] long hours of shooting and long hours of preparation with the special effects team [was tough]. To top all that, the gun was very heavy! It took me a couple of months to [fully] recover.”

Without spoiling the scene, Lutz’s character goes through a dramatic transformation. While she didn’t watch any specific movies for reference (telling us that she still had Mad Max and Tomb Raider in mind), she did “work on a physical level” and channel her inner animal.

“What I really did to prep was to understand what a panther would feel and smell and taste while following her prey and then finally killing it.”

While there isn’t a whole lot of death, the injuries are gruesome. In fact, there’s so much blood that Lutz gets completely covered in it.

“I’ve never shot such a bloody film.

“It was fun the first time Coralie covered my whole body in blood. As days went by, it wasn’t that fun anymore. Blood is super sticky and my whole body was sticking to everything, so I couldn’t sit down. After three full days of standing, I didn’t like the blood that much anymore, but watching the movie on screen now, it was definitely worth it!”

Ironically, Lutz isn’t a horror movie fan (yet, we’ll get her!): “I’m not a big horror fan cause I’m very sensitive and susceptible – I get scared very easily and I can’t sleep at night! If I’m alone in the house I start hearing and seeing things reflected in windows, and it’s so real! So, I decided not to watch too many horror films.”

For those excited to catch Lutz’s breakout performance in Revenge, you shouldn’t have to wait long. Shudder acquired the film for streaming release sometime in 2018.

[Related] All Sundance Reviews, Interviews, and News

Horror movie fanatic who co-founded Bloody Disgusting in 2001. Producer on Southbound, V/H/S/2/3/94, SiREN, Under the Bed, and A Horrible Way to Die. Chicago-based. Horror, pizza and basketball connoisseur. Taco Bell daily. Franchise favs: Hellraiser, Child's Play, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, Scream and Friday the 13th. Horror 365 days a year.

Indie

“Bite Size Short: Her House of Horrors” Announce Short Grant Program!

Published

on

Her House of Horrors, the horror division of Independent Production House WOMXNOGRAPHY, has launched its Bite Size Short Grant Program, ahead of its film festival Dollhouse of Horror, which will take place in March 2025 in Los Angeles, CA.

The Bite Size Short Grant Program awards $2,000 film grants to female-identifying and queer horror filmmakers. Shorts must be able to be made for $2,000, with a minimum runtime of 8 minutes. Submissions are now open on Filmfreeway, and are being judged by a panel of horror lovers and content creators.

The 2024 Bite Size Short Grant Program judge lineup is as follows:

“James H. Carter II- A documentary director, film producer, podcaster, marketing specialist, and writer. James is the founder and co-owner of Creepy Kingdom. Creepy Kingdom was founded in 2011 and is a multimedia website, and production studio specializing in creepy content. Their primary focus lies at the intersection of childlike fantasy and the macabre, covering horror films, theme parks, haunts, and much more. Beyond their extensive media coverage, Creepy Kingdom hosts events, offers original merchandise, and engages in film production under the Creepy Kingdom Studios brand producing original films like “Foolish Mortals”, exploring Disney’s “Haunted Mansion” fan culture, and “Georgie”, featuring Tony Dakota from the original “It” miniseries.

“In addition to founding Creepy Kingdom, James has won awards for his documentary work, including the award-winning “Foolish Mortals,” which has earned him recognition. He has been featured on Freeform’s 31 Nights of Halloween special.

“Ashleeta Beauchamp is the editor-in-chief of Peek-A-Boo! Magazine, a cheeky horror magazine created to uplift marginalized writers, artists, models and other creators within the horror community. She also runs The Halloween Coalition, a community group to provide support and marketing for horror and Halloween events around the Southern California area.

“Titeanya Rodríguez is a multi-hyphenate creative, and the founder and owner of HER HOUSE OF HORRORS, home of DOLLHOUSE OF HORROR and the horror division of WOMXNOGRAPHY. As a fellow storyteller and a self-proclaimed artivist, Titeanya’s mission is to create opportunities for women of color and queer women, across film, tv, sports, music, and beyond. She is also the creator of the BITE SIZE SHORT grant program.”

Winners will have a one-night theatrical screening at Regal Cinemas. Submissions Close April 8 at Midnight. Winners will be announced on May 27, 2024. Shorts must be shot and through post-production by June 30, 2024. The screening will take place on July 8, 2024, in Los Angeles, CA.

WOMXNOGRAPHY, HER HOUSE OF HORRORS, and Rodriguez are represented by Azhar PR, Granderson Des Rochers, and Kinsella Holley Iser Kump Steinsapir.

To submit your short to the Bite Size Short Grant Program, go to the FilmFreeway link here.

Continue Reading